Monday, May 18, 2009

Obama's ND speech: The reviews are in

Chicago Sun-Times:"Obama's spirit of civil discourse -- 'open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words' -- is a good formula not only for getting stuff done, but for getting along.

The sooner we denounce and abandon the ways of the haters and the professional shouters, the sooner we will become better neighbors, better friends, better opponents."

Click here to continue reading Even foes should appreciate Obama's call for mutual respectEJ Dionne in the Washington Post:"It was hard to square that message with the rage directed toward Obama and Jenkins by their detractors. Yet in raising the stakes entailed in Obama's visit, the critics did the president a great service.

By facing their arguments head-on and by demonstrating his attentiveness to Catholic concerns, Obama strengthened moderate and liberal forces inside the church itself. He also struck a forceful blow against those who would keep the nation mired in culture-war politics without end. Obama's opponents on the Catholic right placed a large bet on his Notre Dame visit. And they lost. "

Click here to continue reading Obama Confronts Foes With FaithBill Press in the Huffington Post:"In the end, 2009 Commencement Exercises at Notre Dame ended up making a great day for America, a great day for the University of Notre Dame, but a sad day for the Catholic Church.

How ironic. In the end, it took a non-Catholic to tell Catholic bishops what their faith is all about."